Thales I-Master Radar Completes Test Flights

Thales' new I-Master radar system completed test flights on a Diamond DA42MPP GUARDIAN aircraft recently, during a week-long trial in Austria.

During the flights, I-Master was used to transmit high resolution radar images and infrared footage via a high-bandwidth line-of-sight data link to controllers at a ground station. The test flights were conducted in partnership with Diamond Aircraft Industries, which manufactures the DA42MPP.

Markus Fischer, sales director at Diamond, said he was impressed by how "quickly and easily" the I-Master could be integrated onto the aircraft. I-Master can be installed on a 15-inch gimbal outline, and features two radar modes; Ground Moving Target Indication and Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery.

"We believe that the combination with the Diamond DA42 is particularly attractive, and meets an increased need for cost-effective, light, manned ISR platforms," said Eddie Awang, vice president of ISR at Thales U.K.